Stories from Early Islam — Page 189
189 works, organisers of marvellous institutions and founders of a great many sciences and arts. They invented the instruments of astronomy and constructed numerous observatories. With the aid of trigonometry they mapped out the land, charted the seas and plotted the sky. With the invention of the Mariner’s compass, they began to roam about the oceans freely. Their frail boats were replaced by larger sailing ships. Their interest in geography was sparked by these tremen- dous voyages. They plied the seas as far east as China, explored the coasts of Africa and ranged north to Scandinavia. Some of them travelled overland through Central Asia and north into Russia. It was the Muslim scholars who introduced the science of Algebra to Europe. In medical science, they had shown great interest. They knew the use of anaesthetics and performed operations on patients. The Muslim physicians of the 11th cen- tury introduced the custom of mobile clinics.